the nervous system and attachment

Why do we repeatedly find ourselves in the same relationship patterns? Why do we react with anxiety, withdrawal, conflict, or emotional shutdown—even when we long for closeness and connection?


In The Nervous System and Attachment, Identity-Oriented Psychotrauma Therapist and Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapist Nadine Elzas explores the profound connection between the nervous system, attachment, identity, and healthy sexuality. Drawing on years of therapeutic experience, she explains how unresolved trauma shapes the way we relate to ourselves and others—and how lasting healing becomes possible when we learn to understand and regulate our nervous system.


This book invites you on a journey of self-discovery, helping you uncover the roots of old emotional wounds and transform the patterns that no longer serve you.


Inside, you will learn how to:


Recognize how unresolved pain continues to influence your thoughts, emotions, and relationships.
Understand the body's survival responses—fight, flight, freeze, and shutdown—and how they show up in everyday life.
Develop greater compassion for your emotional and physical experiences.
Build the self-awareness and practical tools needed to create healthier relationships with yourself and others.
Explore reflective questions that deepen your understanding of your body, your attachment patterns, and the behavior of the people around you.
Beautifully illustrated by Daphne Hooiveld, a body-oriented therapist trained in Somatic Experiencing®️, the book offers artwork that speaks beyond words. Her evocative drawings invite you to connect with your body through felt experience, deepening your understanding of what it means to develop a healthy, resilient nervous system.


Whether you are healing from trauma, seeking healthier relationships, or simply wanting to better understand yourself, The Nervous System and Attachment offers both practical guidance and compassionate insight for your journey toward greater connection, resilience, and inner freedom.

Written by Nadine Elzas

Illustrations by Daphne Hooiveld

ISBN: 9789463142137

Hard-cover, 2026, Engels